Automobile wheel aligning device



Nov. 1, 1932. F. w. Howe:

AUTOMQBILE WHEEL ALIGNING DEVICE Filed Jan. 28, 1928V 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 F. W. HOWE AUTOMOBILE WHEEL- ALIGNING DEvcs Nov. l, 1932.

Filed Jan. 2a. 1928 Smeetssheet 2 Nov. l, 1932.

F. w. Hows AUTOMOBILE WHEEL ALIGNING DEVICE Filed Jan. 28. 192s s sheets-sheet s :romy

Patented Nov. 1, 1932 AUm'rlsn STATES PATENT- OFFICE FBANX' W. HOWE, OF SIDNEY, NEW YORK, SSIGNOIB., BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

. CLYDE E. PHELPS, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK l AUTOMOBILE WHEEL ALIGNING DEVICE Applicatiopngled' January 28, 1928. -Seria1,No. 250,209.

This invention relates to new and useful l improvements in devices for facilitating the wheels of proper alignment of the :front or rear wheels of an automobile and to more particularly facilitate the adjustment of the wheels so that the proper degree of toe-in or toeout may be provided. l

It is well known that the front wheels of automobiles when not running in perfect alignment will cause excessive wear on the tires, hard steeringo the machine, and oftentimes the trembling of the entire front of the automobile, commonly called shimmey which sometimes results in serious wrecks or accidents.

Furthermore when the front wheels are not in proper alignment the result is an eX- cessive wear and uneven scrubbing of the tires by scalloping or cupping out the rubber of the tire threads in deep cup like shape at various points upon the tread. y

Through the medium of the present invention such disalignment of the wheels may be readily and accurately corrected.

Generally the invention consists of a l'pair of similarly constructed units interconnected in spaced parallel relationI equivalent to the spaced rel tion between the ,front or' reanl iin automobile, each unit consistmg of a base member or casting to which is pi oted for horizontal swinging movement a. tire tread engaging roller so that when the 7Jwheel is rot-ated, manually or otherwise, the

roller will swing upon its 'axis and move a cooperating pointer which discloses readily if the wheels are in or out of alignment.

vInorder' that the proper indications will result it is necessary that the rollers of the units be arranged in'back ofthe vertical 'axes of the Wheels and that the pivot points of the rollers be arranged in vertical alignment with said vertical axes.

A further and most important object of this invention is to provide means in association with the aligning mechanism to bring about the proper location of the aligningv mechanism in position beneath the Wheels of the machine when the car is raised. A further and quite important object of this invention resides in the provision of an' aligning mechanism for vehicle wheels wherein the disalignment of the wheels may be readily determined for correction, and this regardless of the diameter of the wheels. yAlinal salient object of this invention is to provide a combined aligning and locating device that is unusually simple in construction and inexpensive of manufacture and one that may be employed for the purposes intended without requiring any unusual skill upon the part ofthe operator.

With the foregoing and other objects in view as the nature of the invention will be better" understood, the same comprisesfthe novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and de` fined inthe claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a top plan view of the complete device, the front wheels of' anv automobile being disclosed in dotted lines as arranged thereon.

Figure 2 is an inner side elevation of one of the units of the device as arranged beneath a wheel disclosed'in dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a front end elevatlon of one of the units. f Y

FigureA.. is an outer edge eleva-tion of one of the uiiits arranged beneath a wheel, the locating device for the unit beingv broken away. I

Figure 5 is a plan view of the base member or casting of one of the units.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of thetire tread engaging roller carrying member mounted for horizontal swinging movement upon the base member or casting.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section through A the base member or casting and the roller carrying .unit pivotally arranged thereon.

A Figure 8 is a detailed longitudinal section through one longitudinal edge of the base member or casting/at the forward end thereof for disclosing more clearly the attaching bracket for its cmplemental locating device, i

and

' invention.4

Figure 9 is a fragmentary transverse section therethrough.

ANow having particuiar reference to the drawin my novel device consists of a pair of similarly constructed units designated gzenerally by the reference characters A-A.

ach unit consists of a base member 5 in the form of a metallic casting of somewhat elongated formation and preferably of the design as disclosed in- Figure 5. However, it is not absolutely necessary that these base members be of the designillustrated for the reason that various designs can be had without aecting the spirit or scope of the present Intermediate the ends of each casting 5 the same is formed with a. vertical pivot pin 6, while adapted forloose disposition upon said pin is a collar 7 formed at its lower end and rear edge with a rearwardly extending arm 8, said arm and collar being formed as a single unit preferably through a casting operation. As more clearly disclosed in Figure 6 the lower surface of the arm 8 is located above the lower end of the collar? sothat the coliar only will have bearing upon the base casting 5.

Directly in back ofthe vertical pin bore of said collar 7 there is formed a cross bre 9 to facilitate the pivotal attachment of the inner forked end 10 of an arm casting 11, the rear end of which is formed with a relatively wide fork 12 between the legs of which is mounted for rotation a roller 13.

Arranged between the rear end of the co1- lar arm 8 and the arm casting 11 inwardly of the fork 12 is an expansible coil spring 14v for the purpose of normally urgingl the roller l carrying arm in an upward direction.

At the forward edge of thecollar 7 the same 1s formed at its lower end with a longitudinally projectingtongue 15 to which is rigidly secured the inner end of a pointer 16 while within the normal radius of the swinging movement of said pointer the said base 5 11az provided with a properly calibrated Iscale Each casting 5 is formed at its forward edge with a cross bore 18 whereby the opposlte ends of a tie rod 19 may have a sliding lfit therein so that the units maybe arranged in predetermined spaced relation ^substantially equivalent tothe spaced relation between the compleniental wheels to be aligned.

In actual practice, the front or rear end of the vehicle, dependingV upon which pair of wheels are to be-tested for proper alignment` 1s jacked up for a predetermined extent and the device arranged so that the units FA-- will be disposed in position beneath said wheels. Proper results can be had, however, only whenthe pivot points of the collars 7 of said units are arranged in vertical align- 1,sse,o19

vertical axes with the result that when said Y rollers frictionally enga e the tire tread this will under the laws of 1S ysics cause the said rollers to exactly parallel the axes of said wheels resulting in the turning of the roller arm and consequently the collars upon their the wheels may be brought about by the lengthening or shortening of the automobile tie rod between the wheels.

It is preferable in the proper use of the aligning device to move the left wheel of the osition, this true` machine to a true aligned alignment being indicated y the particular .pointer of that unit being at the zero point of the scale 17. The left wheel is mentioned for the reason that usually the left wheel is directly associated with the vehicle steering mechanism. However, in the event the Inachine is constructed with a right hand drive, the right hand wheel should be moved into true alignment. The combined misalignment ofthe two wheels will then be registered upon ythe scale of the other unit `so that both wheels may be adjusted inte true alignment or into the proper toe-inl or toe-out.

In order to facilitate the proper location of the units beneath the wheels, each unit is equipped with a similarly constructed locatin device. l p

n order to permit of the attachment of the locating devices to the units, the opposite longitudinal edges of each base member, at the forward end thereof, are forned with longitudinalslots 20-20, these slots at opposite.

edges being provided soA that each unit may be arranged at either end of theinterconnecting tie rod 19. However, in actual practice it may be desirable to provide these slots. only at the inner edges of the casting. Ar-

ranged upon the inner edge of each base cas-- portion of the bracket, see Figure v9. In

order to determine the correct position lof the bracket upon the casting, the face of the lcasting at the inner sides of said slots 20-20 is longitudinally scaledas at 24-24, to cooperate' with the inner pointed edge of the bracket, as will be understood upon reference to Fig. 1. rAdjacent the upper end of lll the vertical portion of said bracketv21 there is formed an opening 25 to facilitate the ivotal'attachment of an elongated link mem- Eer 26 thereto, .while extending from the other end of this link member and being piv- .otally interconnected at adjacent ends areother link members 27, at least one of which is provided adjacent one end with a slot 28 whereby the length of the arm formed by said links may be lengthened or shortened. Pivoted to the end of the uppermost link 27 is a longitudinally extending collar 29 which is longitudinally slidable and rotatable on an elongated pin or bar 30 the inner end of which is bent at right angles thereto as at 31, while the extreme outer end of this right angularly bent portion is provided with a longitudinally extending spindle knuckle feeler tip 32. After the proper adjustment of this feeler tip has been made, its longitudinal carrying pin 30 may be locked in the collar 39 by a clamp or set screw 32. Prior to the dispositionof the entire mechanism beneath the automobile wheels, the lo? eating devices are adjusted by .simple calculaticns so that when the eeler tips 32 encounter the spindle knuckles of the axles as disclosed in Figures 2 and 3, the ivotal axes of the rollers 13 will be located 1n true vertical alignment with said wheel axles as in Figure 2 so that the turning of the wheels will cause the rollers'to move parallel to the axes of the wheels'. j j

In view of the foregoing description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art that I have provided a highly novel, simple and extremely eiiicient and serviceable aligning -device for vehicle wheels together with means for properly loeating the device in position beneath. the wheels, and even though I have herein shown and described the invention as consisting o certain detail structural elements it is nevertheless to be understood that some changesl may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

,Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is y 1. In a wheel aligning device of the class described, a pair of units adapted to be ar.- ranged in spaced parallel relation substantially equivalent to the spaced relation of a` pair of complemental vehicle wheels to `be aligned, each unit comprising a base adapted for arrangementbeneaththe wheel, and an elongated lmember pivoted to the base for horizontal swinging movement thereon and having a part removed longitudinally of the member from the axis of the latter, and adapted to frictionallv engage the vehicle -wheel, whereby when the wheel is revolved, t. the member will be turned so that its longitudinal axis will be parallel Atothe medial l plane of the wheel. A

2. In a wheel aligning device of the class described, a unit adapted to be arranged beneath one of the wheels to bealigned when ,the same is in a raised position, said unit comprising a base, an elongated member pivoted on the base for horizontal swinging movement, and having a part removed longitudinally of the member from the axis of the latter and adapted to frictionally engage the v ',vehicle wheel whereby, when the wheel is revolved, the member will be turned, so that its longitudinal axis will be parallel to the medial plane of the wheel, anda pointer carried by the horizontally swinging member forindicating the degree of its turning movei revolved, the member will be turned so that its longitudinal axis will be parallel to the medialplane of the wheel, and means associated with the base for locating the pivotal point between the base and the pivoted member directly beneath the steering axis of the wheel. 4. In a wheel aligning device of the char- `acterdescribed, a unit adapted to be arranged beneath the wheel to be aligned when the same is raised, said unit lcomprising' a base, an elongated arm pivoted on the base for horizontal swinging movement, a roller` I' carried by the arm and adapted to frictionally engage 'the vehicle wheel, spring means for normally urging said roller into fric,-

tional engagement with the vehicle wheel, so

that said arm will be turned upon rotation of the wheel so that the longitudinal axis of the arm will be parallel to the medial plane of the wheel, and means associated with the Vbase whereby the pivot between the arm and the base may be located directly beneath the y steering axis of the wheel.

5. InY a wheel aligning device of the class described, a unit adapted to be arranged beneath one of the wheels to bef-aligned when the same is in a raised position, said unit comprising a base, an elongated member pivoted on the base for horizontal swinging movement and having apart removed longitudinally of the member from the axis of the latter and adapted tov frictionallv engage the Vehicle wheel, 'whereby when the wheel is revolved, the member will be turned so that its longitudinal axis will be parallel to the ymedial plane of the'wheel, means associated with the base for locating the pivotal point between the base and the pivoted member directly beneath the steering axis of the wheel, and a pointer carried by the horizontally swinging member for indicating the degree of pivotal movement of the member with respect t0 the base.

6. In a wheel aligning device of the lclass described, a unitl adapted to be arranged beneath one of the wheels to be aligned when the same is in a'raised position, said unit comprising a base, and an elongated member pivoted to the base for horizontal swinging movement thereon, and having a part removed longitudinally of themember from the axis of the) latter, and adapted to frictionally engage the vehicle wheel, whereby, when the wheel is revolved, the member will be turned, so that its longitudinal axis will be parallel to the medial plane of the wheel.

7. In a wheel-aligning device of the class described, the combination of a horizontally swinging indicator arm, means for supportingv said arm beneath a wheel to be aligned,

yieldable means constantly urging the indicator arm upwardly to the wheel, and means on said arm for frictionally engaging the wheel at one side of the pivot of the indicator arm whereby when the wheel is revolved the indicator arm will be turned and its longitudinal axis disposed parallel with the medial plane of the wheel. l

8. Ina wheel-aligning device of the class described, the combination of a horizontally swinging indicator arm, means for supporting said arm beneath a wheel to be aligned, means on said arm for frictionally engaging the wheel at one side of the pivot of the indicator arm whereby when the wheel is revolved the indicator arm will be turned and its longitudinal axis dis osedparallel with 'the medial plane ofthe w eel, and means risingV at the opposite side of the `pivot'of the indicator arm to engage the spindle knuckle of the axle carrying the wheel whereby the pivot of the indicator arm will be located directly beneath the steering axis of the wheel, said locatinghmeans being movable with the arm into operative relation to the wheel.

9. In a wheel-alignino` device of the class described, the combination oa horizontally swinging indicator arm, means for supporting said arm beneath a wheel to be aligned, means on said arm for frictionally engaging the wheel at one side of the pivot of the in dicator arm whereby when the wheel is revolved the indicator arm will beturned and its longitudinal axis disposed parallel with the medial plane of the wheel, a vertically adjustable supporting device disposed at the opposite side of the pivotof the indicator arm movable with the arm into operative relation to the wheel, and a feeler tip at the upper end of said device to bear against the 5. spindle knuckle of the axle carrying the its longitudinal axis disposed parallel with the medial plane of the wheel, a supporting member rising above the indicator arm at the opposite side of the pivot thereof and movable with the arm into operative relation to the wheel, and a feeler tip rotatabl and slidably mounted on the upper end o said suport-ing member to bear against the spindle i nuckle of the axle carrying the wheel whereby the pivot of the indicator arm will be located directly below the steering axis of the wheel. 11.l A machine for determining the misalignment of lvehiclewheels comprising two members for "engagement by two wheels whose misalignment is to be tested, each of said members having its wheel engaged portion movable in the direction of travel of the vehicle and atleast one of said members being movable transversely of said direction, means for supporting said movable members, positioning means for cooperating with two spaced points arranged transversely of the vehicle in order to relatively position the vehicle and the machine so that thev axle of the vehicle lies exactl at right angles to said direction while the w eels are in engagement with said members, and means forsupporting said positioning-means in fixed position to the supporting means ofthe movable mem- 12. A machine for determining the misalignment of the wheels of aQvehicle comprising two movable members for engagement by two wheels Whose misalignment is to be tested, each"of said members having its wheel engaged portionanovable inthe direction of travel ofl the` vehicle and at least one of said members being movable transversely of such direction,.means for supporting said members, positioning devices for cooperating with two spaced points arranged transversely of the vehicle, andfadjustable means supporting said positioningA devices from the member supporting means to permit the positioning devices to obtain universal adjustment in a vertical plane extending transversely of said directio 13. A machine for determining the misalignment of the wheels of a vehicle comprising two members for engagement by. two wheels -who'se misalignment is to be tested,

.each of said members being movable in the direction of travel of the vehicle and at least one of said members being movable transversely of said direction, means for supporting said members, positioning devices for cooperating with two spaced points arranged transversely of the vehicle, adjustable means supporting said positioning devices from said member supporting means to permit the positioning devices to obtain universal adjustment in a vertical plane extending transversely of said direction, said adjustable means comprising a standard on the member supporting means, a frame supporting one of the positioning devices, and a link connecting said frame and the standard.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature. l

FRANK W. HOVVE. 

